Search

3.148. The new law retains the previous exclusions for patentability that concerned plant varieties, animal species, or biological methods of producing plants or animals (with exceptions for microbiological methods and their products); (...)

4.13. In addition, the UAE collaborates with other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to provide food security and optimize the utilization of resources. The UAE complies with the 2006 GCC Law on Fertilizers and Agricultural Soil Improvements, (...).

4.14 (…) Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) does not provide production subsidies to farmers; instead, it encourages farmers to use modern technology and adopt efficient approaches for water and environmental protection.

4.15. (...). For farmers to benefit from the financial assistance programme, Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) Decree No. 23 of 2020 requires them to apply the relevant regulations including on biosecurity and food safety. (...).

4.21. The National Climate Change Plan 2017-2050 highlights several key challenges for the country, such as limited arable land, intense heat, high salinity, water shortage, and heavy reliance on food imports. To overcome these risks related to food supply, the authorities decided to emphasize their agricultural policies on food security. (...)

4.22. A year after the publication of the National Climate Change Plan, the 2018 National Strategy for Food Security determined 42 short- and long term initiatives to address the challenges of food and agriculture production and supply based on 5 main goals:
(...)• Enhance sustainable technology-enabled domestic food supply across the value chain.
• Reduce food loss and waste. (...)

[4.22. (...) the 2018 National Strategy for Food Security determined 42 short- and long term initiatives to address the challenges of food and agriculture production and supply (...)]
4.23. The 42 initiatives integrate into the main objective of implementing resilient agricultural practices to increase productivity and production, while transforming the food systems to be more sustainable and to safeguard ecosystems. (...)

4.24. In 2019, the UAE started to promote agricultural technology through the USD 272 million Ag Tech Programme launched by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office. Four Ag Tech private companies – AeroFarms (research and vertical farming), Madar Farms (the world's first commercial scale indoor tomato farm using only LED lights), RNZ (research and development to quantify production output measured against environmental inputs), and Responsive Drip Irrigation (innovative irrigation system) – benefited from funding through this programme. In addition, the Federal Government created the Ag-Tech Government Accelerators Programme, which focuses on adopting modern technologies in agriculture to reduce costs, strengthening the sector, and fostering research. Ten initiatives were introduced by the Government in this context to promote the adoption of Ag Tech, including a sustainable agriculture label, reduced agricultural licence fees, loan guarantees, a food security data platform, and new standards for aquaculture [30]. [30] Ministry of Food and Water Security (2021), The Future of Food: Towards Future Food Security 2051; UAE Food & Water Security, Ag-tech Accelerators Program.

4.26. In June 2020, the UAE Cabinet approved the national system for sustainable agriculture. Its missions are to improve the efficiency of UAE farms and, in accordance with the authorities' broader food security goal, to strengthen food self-sufficiency. Annual targets are to increase the production of agricultural crops by 5%, average farm income by 10%, and the agricultural workforce by 5%, and to reduce water use for irrigation by 15%. (...)

4.27. (...), in 2021, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) reduced or waived fees for a number of agricultural activities in a bid to increase production and encourage young people becoming agricultural entrepreneurs. Fees for the release of agricultural products and animal consignments, import permits for animal feed and fodder, and the use of the organic logo, inter alia, figured on the list.